Summer's here....

We dug out the old pool from last year today. The water was really cold when we first filled it up, but Rory didn't mind. Bogey loves the water too....

Happy Easter

Rory driving...

I guess this story is a testament to how observant Rory is. Last night we went to watch a friend of ours' daughter play softball. Sammy had taken her in the jeep and I met them out there. On the way home we decided to put her carseat in my car since it was dark and getting a little cold to be riding in the Jeep with windows open. Too, she had told Sammy on the way there, that the wind was messing up her hair....so, I put Rory in the front drivers' seat while I helped Sammy get the carseat. The parking lot was busy with people leaving, so I wanted her confined. I didn't want her getting "smooshed"-what we tell her about cars. I had thrown my keys into my purse on the passenger seat. We were chatting with our friend as we were moving the carseat. I was looking in the windows at her she and was adjusting the AC vent and pushing the radio buttons like she sees me do. I was standing at the back of the car when I heard the ignition turn on. I think I paused a second trying to collect my thoughts on what just happened. When I opened the door she was moving the steering wheel like she was driving. I laughed-which I probably shouldn't have done-because I just couldn't totally believe what she had done. She must have taken the keys out of my purse and known exactly how to stick the key in and turn. She is amazing!!!

We, of course, repeatedly told her that it was bad and not safe to turn the car on.

Ariel Fish gone to the pond in heaven

Well, Ariel fish, the betta fish we inherited from Aunt Carrie has gone to the big pond in heaven. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Nomie, and Sarah were here this last weekend. Naomi had noticed the fish was acting weird and asking if it was dying. I told her no, that the fish was just strange. Well, Monday morning I noticed that Ariel fish wasn't swimming anymore. Immediately emailed Sammy at work and told him that I would kindly wait for him to get home to help me present this to Rory. I was a little panicked-explaining death to my sweet, innocent little girl, but at the same time thought it was a good situation to introduce such a theory to her.....we had lunch with our neighbor Deanna, whose son Colton is five days younger than Rory, and I mentioned it to her. She is a childlife specialist at Dell Children's and has had experience through work and had good suggestions on how to present this concept. She said keep it simple and speak just facts, like the fish is not living anymore, the fish won't be swimming anymore, breathing, etc. She said most of the time kids are ok with it and don't react much at all. I knew I didn't want to make any correlation to sickness for fear of Rory thinking whenever someone was sick, they would die. So, I waited for Sammy to get home. He was wonderful and took it on. He too said I think we are making a bigger deal out of this than it really should be. So, he told Rory, oh no Ariel fish died. She is not swimming anymore. She went to heaven to be with Jesus and God in the big pond. Rory looked at Ariel fish and noticed that "she didn't have eyes anymore."-(I think they were closed.) Sammy told her we needed to bury her or flush her in the toilet. She chose the toilet. Sammy made her say a little prayer and then we sent Ariel fish on her way to the pond in heaven. Sammy told her one day we can get another fish or maybe a bigger aquarium. So, Rory told us we could go to Walmart and get some more fish that had eyes. She spoke very matter of factly that Ariel fish died and that she went to the big pond. Probably more traumatizing experience for me than Rory....

Rory's swimming lessons

Here are some videos from the refresher lessons of the ISR lessons we did last summer. Rory doesn't totally love them as you'll see, but she accomplished the skills to be safe in the water--our main concern.